Occupational Therapy
About This Program
You’re a people person. You love helping others, even when that requires patience, empathy, and hard work. You want a career that can take you places. Occupational therapy may be the program for you.
Department
Why Utica University
Building on a liberal arts foundation, the mission of Utica University's occupational therapy is to facilitate learners' transformation into autonomous thinkers, competent therapists, and innovative leaders through scholarly, professional, and community-oriented educational experiences. Taught by Utica’s accomplished faculty, students learn the skills to help people become active, aid those in recovery from a physical or cognitive injury, and provide support to the elderly.
The program offers both undergraduate and graduate entry options.
I'm a first-year interested in the day track
I'm a transfer interested in the day track
I'm a COTA or have an AAS, interested in weekend/bridge track
I have or will have a bachelor's degree and am interested in the Masters in OT Day or Weekend track
I have a Masters in OT and am interested in the post-professional doctorate
Accreditation Information
The Utica University Occupational Therapy program has been approved by the New York State Education Department. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200. North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE's telephone number, c/o AOTA, is 301-652-6611 x2042. AOTA can be reached at 800- SAY-AOTA (800-729-2682) or local calls: 301-652-2682; Fax: 240-762-5150. The ACOTE website is www.acoteonline.org ; AOTA’s website is https://www.aota.org
Contact Information
Office of Admissions
Office of Graduate Admissions
Dr. Colleen Sunderlin
General Information
Occupational Therapy at Utica
I always had an idea that I would like to help people who may not have the same opportunities and privileges that I have, but now I just have this burning desire to help. Because now I have seen it, I know it.
Median Salary for Occupational Therapists
Job Growth by 2029
Career Opportunities
94% PASS RATE AVERAGE
Options
What You'll Learn
Utica’s occupational therapy program is distinctive in its collaborative community alliances that enable faculty and students to meet the needs of society while promoting critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and skill development. The Occupational Therapy program is approved by the New York State Education Department and fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
Full Curriculum for B.S. to M.S. OT Program
Full Curriculum for Graduate Level OT Program
For more information about the Graduate Level OT program, read our current Occupational Therapy Information Guide, including application information.
Occupational Therapy Faculty
- Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
- Coordinator O.T.
- Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
- Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
- Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
- Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
- Professor of Practice Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Professor of Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Instructor of Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Lecturer of Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Lecturer of Occupational Therapy
- Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Lecturer of Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Lecturer of Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Lecturer of Occupational Therapy
- Adjunct Professor of Health Studies
A Degree That Works
Our graduates work in a variety of arenas of health care including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, and community programs and private practice. Students and graduates have presented at national and state conferences and many have published in occupational therapy journals and health related journals.
School-Based OT with Utica Alum Jaime Spencer
Occupational Therapy alum Jaime Spencer is known by many today as simply "Miss Jaime, O.T.," - a nationally-recognized speaker, entrepreneur, author, and advocate for equal rights for school-based occupational and physical therapy practitioners.
When popular digital series OT Miri wanted to discuss school-based Occupational Therapy to her nearly 3 million viewers, she had to look no further than Utica's own Miss Jaime, O.T.
Follow Our OT Student Blog
Want to know what it's like to be a graduate student in Utica's OT program? Check out this blog by Melanie Powers, a current student in the Master's program.
Melanie's OT Blog
Student Voices: Melanie Carlson
Utica University's 2017 Valedictorian Melanie Carlson talks about her experience in Utica University's 3+2 Occupational Therapy masters program.
Dive Deeper
The Interprofessional Education (IPE) program at Utica University helps you develop a deeper understanding of a broad range of roles in the health professions so that you can effectively team up with practitioners in other disciplines to deliver outstanding patient care.
Learn More
Student Voices: Cassandra Dychton
Occupational therapy major Cassandra Dychton discusses what she feels makes the Utica faculty outstanding and how her field work in the Dominican Republic helped solidified her career choices and her confidence in herself.
Real-World Experience
The OT Dominican Republic experience consists of a Level 1 Fieldwork Experience for the occupational therapy students who are in their final year of the graduate occupational therapy program. The students work collaboratively with supervisors from Utica University as well as occupational therapists in the Dominican Republic to provide occupational therapy intervention services.
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Student Voices: Tessa Lamper
Occupational Therapy major Tessa Lamper discusses how she found Utica University to have something for everyone and, though reserved in high school, found the warm environment and people of Utica helped bring her out of her shell.
Involvement
The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is a student-led professional organization affiliated with the student organization of the American Occupational Therapy Association and supports local service organizations, fundraises for students to attend local and national conferences, and offers students first-hand lessons of the value of professional relationships.
LEARN MORE
Alumni Voices: Katherine Kerr
Katherine Kerr is a 2013 alum of the Utica University M.S. program in occupational therapy. In early 2015, she organized a wheelchair basketball league in her hometown of Belleville, Ontario, Canada. According to Katherine, the idea was inspired by her experience working with Utica’s Sitrin STARS adaptive sports program, part of her fieldwork while attending Utica.
READ MORE
ACOTE Accredited
The Occupational Therapy program is fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200 North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. The phone number for ACOTE is (301) 652-AOTA [301-652-2682]. The web address of ACOTE is www.acoteonline.org.
NBCOT Accredited
All Utica University MS/OT program graduates are eligible to apply and sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), located at One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; phone (301) 990-7979. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or obtain a state license as an occupational therapist.
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Thera…
Need help with your English Language skills?
Utica University offers an English for Healthcare program for those looking to improve English fluency, accuracy, vocabulary, communication skills, and confidence in order to take the next step in your healthcare career.
Learn More
Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity
Utica University is proud to have an official chapter of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), a student-led organization that promotes awareness and activism around diversity issues on campus and community.
Learn MoreHealth Professions at Utica University
Utica University Mental Health Open Forum with Christian Beck
Nationally-Recognized Entrepreneur, Author and Advocate Jaime Spencer '99 interviewed on hit digital series, OT Miri
Finding Her Place: Maryanne Lazore ‘21
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